DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2023
Latest action · Dec 17, 2024 Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedMay 23, 2023
- Passed HouseNot reached
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Dignity for Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American Dream Act of 2023 or as the DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2023
This bill addresses immigration-related issues, such as increasing hiring for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel and providing removal deferral for eligible non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law).
For example, the bill
- requires the hiring of additional CBP personnel and authorizes recruitment, relocation, and retention bonuses for CBP personnel;
- provides funding for border infrastructure and equipment;
- makes it a crime to transmit the location of law enforcement with the intent to violate immigration laws or certain other federal laws;
- requires employers to verify the immigration status of individuals using an electronic employment eligibility confirmation system modeled after the E-Verify system;
- requires unaccompanied alien children to be processed and reunited with U.S.-based sponsors in accordance with the Flores settlement, which established policies pertaining to the treatment of minors without lawful immigration status;
- requires the Department of State to implement a strategy to address the key factors contributing to individuals from Central America traveling to the United States;
- provides a path to permanent resident status to eligible individuals without lawful immigration status who entered the United States as minors (commonly referred to as Dreamers);
- establishes the Dignity Program, which defers the removal of eligible individuals without lawful immigration status who meet various requirements, including paying into a fund to provide training to U.S. workers; and
- establishes the Redemption Program, which provides a path to permanent resident status to individuals who complete the Dignity Program and meet various requirements, including making additional payments into the U.S. worker fund.
Cosponsors 38
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from May 23, 2023 to Dec 3, 2024; 7 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-NY | Adriano Espaillat | Original | May 23, 2023 |
| D-MI | Hillary J. Scholten | Original | May 23, 2023 |
| R-PR | Jenniffer González-Colón | Original | May 23, 2023 |
| D-NC | Kathy E. Manning | Original | May 23, 2023 |
| R-OR | Lori Chavez-DeRemer | Original | May 23, 2023 |
| R-NY | Michael Lawler | Original | May 23, 2023 |
| D-TX | Veronica Escobar | Original | May 23, 2023 |
| R-CA | John S. Duarte | Jun 9, 2023 | |
| D-PA | Susan Wild | Jun 9, 2023 | |
| R-FL | Mario Diaz-Balart | Jun 13, 2023 | |
| D-NV | Susie Lee | Jun 13, 2023 | |
| D-FL | Darren Soto | Sep 21, 2023 | |
| R-CA | David G. Valadao | Sep 21, 2023 | |
| D-TX | Colin Z. Allred | Oct 10, 2023 | |
| R-WA | Dan Newhouse | Oct 10, 2023 | |
| D-VA | Abigail Davis Spanberger | Oct 12, 2023 | |
| D-MA | Jake Auchincloss | Oct 12, 2023 | |
| D-WA | Marilyn Strickland | Oct 12, 2023 | |
| D-PA | Matt Cartwright | Oct 12, 2023 | |
| D-CA | Mike Levin | Oct 12, 2023 | |
| R-PA | Brian K. Fitzpatrick | Oct 24, 2023 | |
| D-NH | Chris Pappas | Oct 24, 2023 | |
| D-MN | Dean Phillips | Oct 24, 2023 | |
| D-MI | Elissa Slotkin | Oct 24, 2023 | |
| D-NY | Patrick Ryan | Nov 7, 2023 | |
| D-CT | Joe Courtney | Dec 5, 2023 | |
| D-MA | Lori Trahan | Dec 5, 2023 | |
| D-PA | Chrissy Houlahan | Dec 22, 2023 | |
| D-PA | Christopher R. Deluzio | Jan 9, 2024 | |
| D-IL | Eric Sorensen | Jan 17, 2024 | |
| D-IL | Nikki Budzinski | Jan 25, 2024 | |
| D-IL | Raja Krishnamoorthi | Feb 14, 2024 | |
| D-OH | Emilia Strong Sykes | Mar 6, 2024 | |
| D-OR | Val T. Hoyle | Mar 6, 2024 | |
| D-FL | Jared Moskowitz | Apr 11, 2024 | |
| D-OH | Greg Landsman | Apr 17, 2024 | |
| D-AK | Mary Sattler Peltola | May 8, 2024 | |
| D-FL | Debbie Wasserman Schultz | Dec 3, 2024 |
Committees 12
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Judiciary Committee | Referred May 23, 2023 |
| House | Homeland Security Committee | Referred May 23, 2023 |
| Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee | Referred May 23, 2023 | |
| House | Ways and Means Committee | Referred May 23, 2023 |
| Social Security Subcommittee | Referred Dec 17, 2024 | |
| House | Agriculture Committee | Referred May 23, 2023 |
| House | Transportation and Infrastructure Committee | Referred May 23, 2023 |
| House | Budget Committee | Referred May 23, 2023 |
| House | Education and Workforce Committee | Referred May 23, 2023 |
| House | Foreign Affairs Committee | Referred May 23, 2023 |
| House | Oversight and Government Reform Committee | Referred May 23, 2023 |
| House | Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee | Referred May 23, 2023 |
| House | Financial Services Committee | Referred May 23, 2023 |
| House | Armed Services Committee | Referred May 23, 2023 |
Actions 4
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Dec 17, 2024Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
- May 23, 2023Introduced in House
- May 23, 2023Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, Ways and Means, Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, the Budget, Education and the Workforce, Foreign Affairs, Oversight and Accountability, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Financial Services, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- May 23, 2023Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
In the Congressional Record 6
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | Debate and remarks H751 | Adriano Espaillat D-NY | Feb 29, 2024 |
| House | Debate and remarks H585 | Adriano Espaillat D-NY | Feb 14, 2024 |
| House | Debate and remarks H521 | Susie Lee D-NV | Feb 7, 2024 |
| House | Debate and remarks H420–H424 | Chrissy Houlahan D-PA, Elissa Slotkin D-MI, Eric Sorensen D-IL, Hillary J. Scholten D-MI, Kathy E. Manning D-NC, Susan Wild D-PA, Veronica Escobar D-TX | Feb 5, 2024 |
| House | Debate and remarks H169 | Veronica Escobar D-TX | Jan 17, 2024 |
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Constitutional authority
The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 169, no. 87, May 23, 2023, page H2546.
CRS reports 6
Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.
Cite it 6
Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| RS20844 | Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure | Report | Aug 28, 2025 |
| R48266 | U.S. Foreign Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean: FY2025 Appropriations | Report | Jan 14, 2025 |
| R43366 | U.S. Naturalization Policy | Report | Apr 15, 2024 |
| R47944 | Measuring Wages in the Agricultural Sector for the H-2A Visa Program | Report | Mar 5, 2024 |
| R47848 | Nonimmigrant Overstays: Overview and Policy Issues | Report | Nov 21, 2023 |
Related bills 11
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR 16 | American Dream and Promise Act of 2023 | Related bill | Jun 15, 2023 |
| S 160 | Sarah's Law | Related bill | Jan 31, 2023 |
| HR 319 | Legal Workforce Act | Related bill | Dec 17, 2024 |
| HR 367 | Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act | Related bill | Jan 13, 2023 |
| HR 661 | Sarah’s Law | Related bill | Apr 5, 2024 |
Titles 12
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- To reform the immigration laws.
- Short Title(s) as Introduced
- DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2023
- Dignity for Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American Dream Act of 2023
- Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill
- American Promise Act
- Transnational Criminal Organization Prevention and Elimination Act
- Protecting Sensitive Locations Act
- Dream Act
- Legal Workforce Act
- American Prosperity and Competitiveness Act
- H–2B Returning Worker Exception Act
- American Dream and Promise Act
- Border Security for America Act
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Immigration.
- Accounting and auditing
- Administrative law and regulatory procedures
- Administrative remedies
- Adoption and foster care
- Advisory bodies
- Agricultural trade
- Assault and harassment offenses
- Aviation and airports
- Border security and unlawful immigration
- Canada
- Cardiovascular and respiratory health
- Census and government statistics
- Child safety and welfare
- Citizenship and naturalization
- Civics education
- Civil actions and liability
- Computer security and identity theft
- Congressional oversight
- Crime prevention
- Crime victims
- Crimes against women
- Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
- Criminal justice information and records
- Customs enforcement
- Department of Homeland Security
- Department of Justice
- Detention of persons
- Disability and paralysis
- Domestic violence and child abuse
- Drug trafficking and controlled substances
- El Salvador
- Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
- Elementary and secondary education
- Emergency medical services and trauma care
- Employee hiring
- Employment and training programs
- Executive agency funding and structure
- Family relationships
- Federal preemption
- Food supply, safety, and labeling
- Foreign aid and international relief
- Foreign labor
- Foreign language and bilingual programs
- Forests, forestry, trees
- Fraud offenses and financial crimes
- Genetics
- Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
- Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
- Government information and archives
- Government studies and investigations
- Government trust funds
- Guatemala
- Health information and medical records
- Higher education
- Honduras
- Horticulture and plants
- Housing industry and standards
- Human rights
- Human trafficking
- Immigrant health and welfare
- Immigration
- Immigration status and procedures
- Infectious and parasitic diseases
- Infrastructure development
- Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
- Intergovernmental relations
- Internet, web applications, social media
- Judicial procedure and administration
- Judicial review and appeals
- Juvenile crime and gang violence
- Labor standards
- Lakes and rivers
- Land use and conservation
- Latin America
- Law enforcement administration and funding
- Law enforcement officers
- Lawyers and legal services
- Licensing and registrations
- Mammals
- Marine and inland water transportation
- Mexico
- Migrant, seasonal, agricultural labor
- Military personnel and dependents
- Motor vehicles
- Multilateral development programs
- National Guard and reserves
- News media and reporting
- Organized crime
- Performance measurement
- Personnel records
- Photography and imaging
- Political parties and affiliation
- Protest and dissent
- Public contracts and procurement
- Public-private cooperation
- Radio spectrum allocation
- Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
- Religion
- Right of privacy
- Roads and highways
- Rule of law and government transparency
- Separation, divorce, custody, support
- Service animals
- Sex offenses
- Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
- Small business
- Smuggling and trafficking
- Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
- State and local government operations
- Student aid and college costs
- Student records
- Teaching, teachers, curricula
- Telephone and wireless communication
- Temporary and part-time employment
- Terrorism
- Transportation costs
- Travel and tourism
- User charges and fees
- Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
- Violent crime
- Visas and passports
- Vocational and technical education
- Wages and earnings
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- May 23, 2023Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
